These reflections are a result of more than 40 years of ministry as a Roman Catholic priest. Most of these years I spent in the Diocese of Charlotte which covers Western North Carolina. Now I am retired, and live in Medellín, Colombia where I continue to serve as a priest in the Archdiocese of Medellín.
And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. (Lk 11:1-13)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/072725.cfm
The teaching on prayer from Luke’s gospel is centered on the Lord’s Prayer. Like the first disciples, we too ask the Lord to “teach us to pray.” The Lord teaches us to pray to the Father, who gives good gifts. I will be traveling in the Balkans for most of the month of August: Croatia, Slovenia, Montenegro, Albania, North Macedonia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Turkey. We will also visit Medjugorje. Starting today, the Daily Reflection and the Orchid Ministry will be on break until the end of August. I will carry all of you in my prayers.
Moses took half of the blood and put it in large bowls; the other half he splashed on the altar. Taking the book of the covenant, he read it aloud to the people, who answered, “All that the LORD has said, we will heed and do.” Then he took the blood and sprinkled it on the people, saying, “This is the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words of his.” (Ex 24:3-8)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/072625.cfm
Jesus offers us the New Covenant in his blood. As Saint Paul reminds us, each time we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. Today we honor the grandparents of the Lord. https://youtube.com/shorts/bRpnepwI2hs?si=_Z3hUlkBU-LWQJbd
We hold this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing power may be of God and not from us. We are afflicted in every way, but not constrained; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our body. (2 Cor 4:7-15)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/072525.cfm
Treasure in earthen vessels. Paul’s description of the challenges of ministry should be required reading in seminaries. The famous Camino is the pilgrimage to the Shrine of Saint James in Santiago de Compostela, Spain. https://youtu.be/rsrqkYQvpr4?si=TbwIXaJ5kBGNkpDB Every visit to Santiago reminds me that the Lord always gives us good companions to share the journey. https://youtu.be/IAZhIw49ULc?si=G0omGoPjEOACszTY
When the LORD came down to the top of Mount Sinai, he summoned Moses to the top of the mountain. (Ex 19:1-2, 9-11, 16-20b)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/072425.cfm
Mountains have always been places of encounter with the Divine. Even Western North Carolina dared to call one of its highest peaks, Mount Pisgah, after the mountain in the Bible. Saint Sharbel (1828-1898) was a Maronite monk from what is known today as Lebanon. He was canonized in 1977 and is especially celebrated throughout Latin America. https://youtu.be/VZwWu8XRKMk?si=Sln66BSv6SpZBVa3
Responsorial Psalm (Psalm 78)
R. The Lord gave them bread from heaven.
Yet he commanded the skies above and the doors of heaven he opened;
He rained manna upon them for food and gave them heavenly bread.
Man ate the bread of angels, food he sent them in abundance.
R. The Lord gave them bread from heaven.
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/072325.cfm
Mere humans, men and women, ate the Bread of Angels. Bread of Angels is an ancient title of the Eucharist. https://youtu.be/79kTCw4543k?si=EKXpG0_nEGlx7z1I
